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Playhouse previews ‘Cotton Patch Gospel’

Musical pleases pastors

From left, James Scheider, Douglas Waterbury-Tieman, Chris Blisset, Bill Altman and Sam Sherwood act in “Cotton Patch Gospel” at Playhouse Downtown. Waterbury-Tieman, foreground, plays the role of Jesus in the retelling of the Gospels.

SCOTT TREADWAY/ PROVIDED

By AMY B. MCCRAWTimes-News Correspondent

Published: Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 8:45 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 8:45 a.m.

Musical theater consultant might not be the first title that comes to mind when most of us consider a pastor’s job description.

But several Hendersonville ministers took on the role recently at the request of the Flat Rock Playhouse during its production of “Cotton Patch Gospel.”

The bluegrass musical is a modern retelling of the Gospels set in rural Georgia. Advertisements refer to it as the “greatest story ever retold.”

The show opened on April 24 in the theater’s downtown Hendersonville location on Main Street. It runs through May 19.

The playhouse held a pastor preview performance during rehearsals for the show and asked for input from the ministers of several local churches.

The theater wanted to gauge how the musical would play to an audience familiar with the story of Christ’s life and make sure it came across in the spirit it was intended, said Vincent Marini, the playhouse’s artistic director. “We wanted to get the message out that it is not a parody.

It’s a celebration,” Marini said.

“The idea was not to offend anyone. The idea was to present the piece and give folks a sense of how revolutionary it was to have a man like Jesus in their midst.”

The playhouse invited ministers from several denominations to see the show and used their suggestions to tweak the production, Marini said.

Tim Jones, a deacon at St.

James Episcopal Church in Hendersonville, was one of the ministers who watched the preview performance. He saw no need for tweaking.

“I think it was very well done,” he said. “I’m really thinking about going to see it again.”

Jones said he loved the show’s music, humor and the thoughtful way it retold the story of Jesus “in sort of a deep-fried Southern culture.” Jones recommended the show to people he knows at church and to the staff at the Hendersonville Rescue Mission, where he also works.

Setting the story of Jesus’ life in rural, segregated Georgia gives it a unique twist that can at times be shocking. But the play remains true to the Gospels and is respectful, Jones said. “The more you are familiar with the whole story of Jesus, the more you will enjoy it,” he said. “I came away remembering how much I love that story.” Jones also took his Baptist mother-in-law along with him to see the play to serve as a sort of barometer for what people from other denominations might think of the

story. “She laughed and had the best time,” he said.

Jones and his motherin- law were not the only ones who loved the preview performance.

Leslie Merrill, the director of Christian education and children’s ministries at Hendersonville’s First United Methodist Church, said she also hopes to see the show again.

“You hear the word ‘amazing’ used in a lot of different ways. Sometimes I feel it is overused,” she said. “This particular play truly was amazing.”

Merrill praised the actors’ versatility and the depth and reverence they showed in their performance.

The show made her both laugh and cry, Merrill said.

“I was very moved and touched,” she said. “I would recommend it, highly recommend it.”

Stephen Cutchins, an associate pastor at First Baptist Church in Hendersonville, said he also plans to recommend the show to his family and friends.

“ ‘Cotton Patch Gospel’ has a very creative and entertaining way of presenting events from the life of Jesus Christ,” Cutchins wrote in an email message about the play. “This musical is a hybrid of true events from the life of Jesus, which are accurately recorded in the Bible, merged with a story line that has taken a good bit of creative license for entertainment value. Overall, this was a fun way to spend the afternoon.”

“Cotton Patch Gospel” features music and lyrics by the late Harry Chapin, who also wrote the No. 1 hit “Cat’s in the Cradle.”

The play was adapted from the book “The Cotton Patch Version of Matthew and John” by Clarence Jordan. It was first staged in 1981 in New York.

Familiar figures from the Bible appear in “Cotton Patch Gospel” as modern officials in Georgia.

Herod is recreated as the governor of Georgia. Caiaphas appears as Dr. Caiaphas, a member of a board of politicians, and Pilate comes to life as a local governor who sentences Jesus and sends him to Lee Correctional Institute. Marini said he thinks the play appeals to audiences regardless of where they worship because of its setting in the modern world and the great bluegrass music it features.

“Cotton Patch Gospel” also makes the audience think about “what it would be like if Jesus were alive today,” he said.

<p>Musical theater consultant might not be the first title that comes to mind when most of us consider a pastor's job description.</p><p>But several Hendersonville ministers took on the role recently at the request of the Flat Rock Playhouse during its production of “Cotton Patch Gospel.”</p><p>The bluegrass musical is a modern retelling of the Gospels set in rural Georgia. Advertisements refer to it as the “greatest story ever retold.”</p><p>The show opened on April 24 in the theater's downtown Hendersonville location on Main Street. It runs through May 19.</p><p>The playhouse held a pastor preview performance during rehearsals for the show and asked for input from the ministers of several local churches.</p><p>The theater wanted to gauge how the musical would play to an audience familiar with the story of Christ's life and make sure it came across in the spirit it was intended, said Vincent Marini, the playhouse's artistic director. “We wanted to get the message out that it is not a parody.</p><p>It's a celebration,” Marini said.</p><p>“The idea was not to offend anyone. The idea was to present the piece and give folks a sense of how revolutionary it was to have a man like Jesus in their midst.”</p><p>The playhouse invited ministers from several denominations to see the show and used their suggestions to tweak the production, Marini said.</p><p>Tim Jones, a deacon at St.</p><p>James Episcopal Church in Hendersonville, was one of the ministers who watched the preview performance. He saw no need for tweaking.</p><p>“I think it was very well done,” he said. “I'm really thinking about going to see it again.” </p><p>Jones said he loved the show's music, humor and the thoughtful way it retold the story of Jesus “in sort of a deep-fried Southern culture.” Jones recommended the show to people he knows at church and to the staff at the Hendersonville Rescue Mission, where he also works. </p><p>Setting the story of Jesus' life in rural, segregated Georgia gives it a unique twist that can at times be shocking. But the play remains true to the Gospels and is respectful, Jones said. “The more you are familiar with the whole story of Jesus, the more you will enjoy it,” he said. “I came away remembering how much I love that story.” Jones also took his Baptist mother-in-law along with him to see the play to serve as a sort of barometer for what people from other denominations might think of the </p><p>story. “She laughed and had the best time,” he said. </p><p>Jones and his motherin- law were not the only ones who loved the preview performance. </p><p>Leslie Merrill, the director of Christian education and children's ministries at Hendersonville's First United Methodist Church, said she also hopes to see the show again. </p><p>“You hear the word 'amazing' used in a lot of different ways. Sometimes I feel it is overused,” she said. “This particular play truly was amazing.” </p><p>Merrill praised the actors' versatility and the depth and reverence they showed in their performance. </p><p>The show made her both laugh and cry, Merrill said. </p><p>“I was very moved and touched,” she said. “I would recommend it, highly recommend it.” </p><p>Stephen Cutchins, an associate pastor at First Baptist Church in Hendersonville, said he also plans to recommend the show to his family and friends. </p><p>“ 'Cotton Patch Gospel' has a very creative and entertaining way of presenting events from the life of Jesus Christ,” Cutchins wrote in an email message about the play. “This musical is a hybrid of true events from the life of Jesus, which are accurately recorded in the Bible, merged with a story line that has taken a good bit of creative license for entertainment value. Overall, this was a fun way to spend the afternoon.” </p><p>“Cotton Patch Gospel” features music and lyrics by the late Harry Chapin, who also wrote the No. 1 hit “Cat's in the Cradle.” </p><p>The play was adapted from the book “The Cotton Patch Version of Matthew and John” by Clarence Jordan. It was first staged in 1981 in New York. </p><p>Familiar figures from the Bible appear in “Cotton Patch Gospel” as modern officials in Georgia. </p><p>Herod is recreated as the governor of Georgia. Caiaphas appears as Dr. Caiaphas, a member of a board of politicians, and Pilate comes to life as a local governor who sentences Jesus and sends him to Lee Correctional Institute. Marini said he thinks the play appeals to audiences regardless of where they worship because of its setting in the modern world and the great bluegrass music it features. </p><p>“Cotton Patch Gospel” also makes the audience think about “what it would be like if Jesus were alive today,” he said.</p>